Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-05

pressed their determination to maintain that
agreement. Can we now depart from our
formal pledge to the people of the State As
one party proposed and the other accepted
the legislation referred to, can either party
nonorably 60 back on it's plighted faith? For
my part, do not see how this could now be
| properly done. Whatever views you or I
may have originally entertained on the sub.
ject, am now satisfied that the State of Vir.
ginia is really unable 10 assume more inan.
cial responsibility than is embodied in what
is known as the Riddleberger act. Virginia
is poor, with the bulk of her lands depreci-
ated in value and cultivated with small
profit, and with her laboring classes
insufliciently remunerated in the shape
of wages. The State has also other i'm.
portant obligations to meet. She must main
tain the civil list, provide the means essen.
tial forthe education the peoples children,
and make the proper appropriations for the
support of various institutions of public
nature, as we'll as take care of the manned
and disabled soldiers of the Commonwealth.
To meet these demands is quite as much as
can be done under the present rate of taxa
ton. The safety of the people is the supreme
law, and when State has done all that it is
in her power to do, no more ought to be de-
manded at her hands. it should ESQ be re-
membered that the Virginia which created
the debt is not the Virginia of to day. The
federal government by force of arms, in the
execution OF its purpose to maintain the
union of the States, permitted the dismem-
berment of our original territory, and gave
separate organization TO the large area en-
braced within the limits of West Virginia by
the establishment of that State. BY its act of
emancipation it also destroyed other large
values which yielded large fund to the
treasury of the State. Virginia is the only
one of the Southern States which has
been divided through the action of
the federal government as q consequence of
the war among the States. For TINT reason
we have an equity against the general gov.
eminent for financial assistance in the lqui-
dation ofthe ante. bellum Indebtedness which
does not attach TO any other Southern State.
The opinion is entertained that Virginia has
| a weI.founde6 claim against the United
States government under the circumstances
referred to for remuneration for the loss of
her territory and that she ought to receive
for this loss of territory an equivalent in
value of public land. / regard this sugges-
tion rs important and worthy of considera-
ton on the part of the people of this State.
| 1.-The course of the Legislature at the re.
cent extra session in declining to accept the
terms submitted by the English bondholde1s
through their commission is deserving of the
cordial Endorsement OF our people. think
| it was mistake on the part of our officials
! to entertain any commission Oh the subject.
| We had laid down our ultimatum and could
not, in my judgment, recede with propriety
| from its terms The whole movement was.
in my opinion, instigated by financial specu-
lators to find out how far our people could
be induced 10 make further concessions in
| their favor. / know there are people in
our midst who think that VIC ought to have
| yielded to the demands OF the commission.
We hear individuals express the opinion
| that tho only way to get rid offs debt is to
pay it, Such views, however, are visionary
and impracticable How can debt be paid
| in the absence of the necessary means re-
quired for that purpose? Where Is the
money to come from? What property do
we hold whose assessed values would bear
any such increased taxation? 1t is too late
for Virginia to take any new departure on
the State debt question. The democratic
party stands committed to abide by the leg
isation as embodied in what is known as
the Riddleberger act. Tho State is unable
to do more, and it should not do less. l
trust that the democratic party of Virginia
will not permit itself to be perverted
from its course because of the uu
English bondholders. 1t would be an un.
reasonable and childish part to play to refuse
TO pay simply because an unreasonable
creditor refuses TO accept payment of his
debt.
"It is also great mistake to assume that
the democratic party of Virginia proposes
TO make any contest with the Supreme
Court of the United States. The truth is
that the Supreme Court, as l understand,
has made two decisions in conflict with each
other in regard to the coDstitutionelity of
our legislation on the subject. That court
has gone out of its way to set aside the plain
provision of an amendment to the constitu
ton as in conflict with another provision Of
that instrument. The decision referred to |
was made by divided court with major.
lily of only one judge in favor of the decision. |
1.-THE appointment of q new judge to fill !
the vacancy which now exists would put |
the question at sea again. Ii our people |
will only pay their current taxes in money
there is not The slightest necessity for any
conflict with the Supreme Court. Surely the
patriotism ofour citizens ought TO be equal to
the requirement OF tho occasion. Ii their
patriotism il thus manifested the trouble
will soon settle itself, and we will have real
ly nothing to fear in the future"
LIT. Gov. Massey, in his speech congraiu.
lated himself that, after twelve yesrs1teach-
ing, the democrats had at last learned some
bottom facts about the debt question. He
said that he doubted, before it took place,
whether the conference with the bondhold
ers would result in anything, but he was
glad it took place. 1t gave the Virginia
people chance to see where the English
creditors stood. He found the English rep
were only a company of brokers
looking for job they might profit by The
speaker minated that he thought the Rid
dleberger bill was too liberal in its terms.
If, said he, the Riddeberger bill was reject
ed by the creditors now, he would never be
willing to formulate another bill with the !
war interest in it. Twelve millions of dol
lars were all that should have been paid,
and that fact he could prove to any intelli.